OF ORNAMENTAL PERENNIALS. 
75 
GENUS I. 
ASCLEPIAS, Lin. THE SWALLOW.WORT. 
Lin. Syst. PENTANDRIA DIGYNIA. 
Generic Character. — Corolla five-parted, reflexed. Leaflets of 1 having a little hom-shaped segment running from the bottom of each, 
corona cucullate, seated on the top of the tube of the filaments, | and lying in the hollow. Follicles slender, smooth. 
Description, &c. — In the plants included in this genus, the pollen is in ten separate masses, two of which 
are afSxed to each of the angles of the stigma. The cup formed by the united filaments has five leaflets opposite 
the anthers, with a second series of small leaflets below the first. The flower is thus very curiously formed, 
and the parts are so complicated as to puzzle a young botanist, who can hardly tell which is the stigma and 
which are the anthers. The name Asclepias refers to the heathen God of Physic, and it was applied to plants 
belonging to this genus, from their supposed medicinal virtues. The English name of Swallow-wort is supposed 
to apply to the appearance of the seed-vessel when just bursting open, so as to show its feathery seeds, when it 
has been fancied to bear a resemblance to a swallow on the wing. 
1— ASCLEPIAS TUBEROSA, Lin. THE TUBEROUS-ROOTED SWALLOW- WORT. 
Synonymes. — A. hirsute, Gron. ; Apocynum caroliniauum. Pet. ^ 
the orange-flowered Asclepias. 
Engravings — Bot. Reg, t. 76 ; and our fiy. l,in Plate 69. 
Specific Character. — Stem erect, divided .at the summit into 
spreading branches, very hairy ; leaves distant, oblong-lanceolate ; 
umbels sub-corymbose, terminal. 
Description, &c. — This plant is a native of many parts of North America, in some of which it is called 
Butterfly-weed, from its being generally covered with butterflies. In other places it is called the Pleurisy plant, 
from its medicinal virtues, which are said to be very considerable. The plant has also several other names in 
America, the oddest of which is Ache-in-the-side plant, from its supposed efiicacy in cases of pleurisy. 
2.— ASCLEPIAS INCARNATA, Lin. THE ROSE-COLOURED SWALLOW- WORT, OR WATER 
SILK-WEED. 
Synonymes. — A. pulchra, Willd. ; Apocynum minus. Barrel. . | covered with soft wool. Leaves lanceolate and covered with a soft 
Engravings. — Bot. Reg. t. 250 ; and our fig. 2, in Plate 69. woolly tomentum. Umbels numerous, terminating every branch ; 
Specific Character. — Stem erect, branching at the upper part, | appendages of the stamens exserted. 
Description, &c. — This is a very handsome species, which varies a good deal in the degree of pubescence 
found upon the stem and leaves, and a little in the colours of the flowers ; which, however, are always of a 
purplish-pink, or a deep rose-colour. The plant is a native of North America, whence it was introduced in 
1710 ; but though it is quite hardy, it is not so common in British gardens as it deserves to be. In its native 
country, it grows in swamps and on the banks of rivers ; and probably the principal reason that it does not 
succeed so well in England is, that it is generally kept too dry. When properly treated, it produces abundance 
of flowers in July and August. The flowers have the fragrance of the Heliotrope. It is generally propagated 
by the young plants it throws up, as it seldom ripens seed in this country. 
3.— ASCLEPIAS PULCHRA, Ehr. THE PRETTY SWALLOW-WORT. 
Engraving. — Sweet’s Brit. Plow. Gard., 2d ser. t. 18. 1 oblong, acute, and very hairy. Stem erect, hairy, divided in the 
Specific Character. — Leaves with very short petioles, subcordate, ] upper part. Umbels terminal ; flowers erect. 
Description, &c. — This plant is supposed by some botanists to be only a variety of A. incarnata ; but they 
appear to be tolerably distinct. The present species has dark purple flowers ; which are produced in much 
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